Monday, February 9, 2009

This is kind of funny: The Panthers' official website has put a ton of its Julius Peppers merchandise on sale. Click the link here, or, if it isn't working, check out shop.panthers.com.

The "New Markdowns" section of the Panther website lists dozens of Peppers-related items, from a Julius bobblehead (once $25, now $15.99) to a Julius action figure (once $10, now $7.99) to various No.90 Peppers jerseys, all marked down "up to 50 percent off," as the website breathlessly proclaims.

OK, some advice here. Do you really want an adult-sized Peppers jersey -- even one for the low, low price of $59.99 -- when Peppers is dead set on not being here next season? That, of course, has to be one of the main reasons for this sale.

If you've got to have a jersey, at least invest in somebody who's going to be here awhile, like DeAngelo Williams.

Also on sale on the website, incidentally: A Ken Lucas jersey. I wouldn't buy that one, either. Lucas played so inconsistently late in the season -- and has such a huge salary-cap figure for next season -- that I seriously doubt he'll be here in 2009, either. (And the Panther website is also trying to off-load some old Keyshawn Johnson and David Carr jerseys with this sale -- good luck on that!)

23 comments:

I bought up some Charlotte Hornets jerseys when they left town. The difference is, they left because of Shinn and Woolridge. I had no ill will towards any of the players, like Baron, D-Wes and Mashburn.

With Peppers its different. I love the Panthers and Jerry Richardson. I DON'T love and I DO have ill will towards Peppers for not wanting to be here and turning his back on the franchise.

By the way, anybody want to buy an authentic sewn Deshaun Foster jersey from me for cheap? Yeah I didn't think so.

I need your honest opinion. What is the likelihood that the Panthers will make an attempt to franchise J Pepp then go for some sort of deal with the Pats for Matt Cassel? I've seen things online in other sites, but I figure I would go to a reliable source about this. It would suit both teams to what they are looking for. Also you previous coworker Pat Yasinskas made a comment that he doesn't think the chance of Carolina going for Haynesworth is that good. Your thoughts???

I know you're asking Scott, but I don't think the Panthers will trade Pep for a QB who might be a one-year wonder who benefited from having Randy Moss and Wes Welker as teammates and not having much film for opposing coaches to study.

I also think our defense has more pressing needs than our offense, and the best bet is to trade Pep for draft picks and get good young defensive talent.

I actually bought a Dan Morgan jersey for 10 bucks from marshalls, granted it is two sizes to big and he's now a worthless player for the saints, but I'll use a slash and burn technique on the peppers jersey... he actually chose to leave the panthers, and that pisses me off.

Snowmn81: I think Panthers almost definitely will franchise Peppers but despite the rampant speculation, I just don't see the trade for Cassel happening. As pointed out by another commenter, the Panthers have more pressing needs. Not sure that Delhomme wouldn't have had Cassel's stats in New England's pass-first offense and vice versa. A trade for draft picks is far more likely than one for players.

ok,,mr peppers,you owe us a solid explination of what the problem is and why you want to leave and if there is anything anyone can do to get you to stay,you sir are turning your backs on alot of fans,,look at that stadium on game day,you see number 90,89 and for some reason 17 jerseys everywere. i have a 450 dollar autographed authentic jersey proudly framed over my fire place which is were it will stay no matter what,,why because i am loyal,somthing your agent has not taught yourself,instead he has got in your head for his own gain,,you really think he wants whats best for you,stop kidding yourself.no you need to give us 5 mins of the questions we all want answers to.we gave you 7 and in some cases more years,we atleast deserve that.and if you think you are going to go to a team with a shot your way off buddy,you will go to a team like detroit who still have ow about 15 more years to get to the playoffs,so kiss a ring goodbye,unless thats not important to your agent also.alot of people are starting to turn there backs on you now,,how do you think your new teams fans will view you if you have another 2007.think about it.

I bought my PSL the off season of the 1-15 season. We drafted Peppers that off season so the first game of the season I bought my Pepper's jersey. We have come a long way from 1-15 and so has Pepper. I have been proud to wear that jersey every Sunday but now will have to retire it. It really makes me sad to think the person we all dreamed to retire as a Panther would leave us the way he is leaving.

This season I had purchased a jersey with my name on it. Maybe I should just wear my personalized jersey from here on out.

At the away game in Oakland this past season the Oakland fans really gave me a hard time with the #90 jersey but I proudly wore it.

"It really makes me sad to think the person we all dreamed to retire as a Panther would leave us the way he is leaving." Why would you be dreaming of guy! As for wearing a jersey with your name on it very weird. Are you waiting in the stands for the Panthers to call your name to come play in the game? LOL!

I picked up my Jersey at Christmas time... a John Kasay, "alternate". The last original Panther, plus he jsut signed a four year deal. Besides, long after he retires i can still wear it with Pride.

Now, if i had a Peppers jersey from before this... i'd still wear it after he leaves... he was drafted a Panthers, and he's done some good things for the team. He is a class act, and he is not roaring about bashing the team. He just wants a chance to go somewhere else. As long as it's not in the NFC, and especially the NFC South, i wish him well.

Peppers was a nice guy, great athlete, but a part time player (Moss-like) with no "fire". With no leader on defense (which for the money Peppers will want - is what HE should have been), no wonder the Panther defense was so inconsistent.

Are you seriously THAT IGNORANT??? You think DeAngelo Williams will become a free agent after this upcoming season?! HA!!Either you're 7 years old, or you need to gain A TON of football knowledge prior to posting any further stupid statements! Do you really think the Cats would let their featured running back just walk away without signing him to a contract extension?? OMG!!

Putting emotion aside, I think the Panthers possible loss of Peppers talent will only make the other factors harder to overcome. So many important coaches left this season. The rest of the league saw the talent that Fox facilitated. Point being, when asked what the key factor was for the Steelers success this year, they pointed out continuity.

If the Panthers are unable to establish continuty, I think they might be looking at a 2nd place finish next year in the NFC South. Continuity comes from leadership. Look at how surprising Atlanta turned out last year. I for one, expected huge blowouts and not in the playoffs. Leadership on the field provides direction.

Leadership is what was missing from Peppers. Tremendous athlete, but missing qualities foune in Jon Beason. We need another Beason on the team. I'd say another Steve Smith, but I think the influence of a Beason is actually greater.

Shear, the Panthers have quite the defensive leader in Jon Beason. The sad part is, he was more of a leader as a rookie than Peppers (who's been in the league for EIGHT SEASONS!) will ever be.

Raptor, it's hardly like it's the Panthers' choice alone as to whether they can re-sign Williams. Frankly, if he's angling for big money, I wouldn't find it all that surpising for them to let him walk, let Stewart take the job (at a VERY low salary himself), and then find another complimentary back for far less than Williams would have commanded.